Rod cell-specific promoter

Abstract

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising, or consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a nucleic acid sequence of at least 200 bp having at least 70% identity to said sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule specifically leads to the expression in rod cells of a gene when operatively linked to a nucleic acid sequence coding for said gene.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising, or consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or consisting of a nucleic acid sequence of at least 200 bp having at least 70% identity to said sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule specifically leads to the expression of a gene in rod cells when a nucleic acid sequence coding for said gene is operatively linked to said isolated nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         13 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to an isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . Expression cassette comprising, as an element promoting gene expression in specific cells, an isolated nucleic acid according to  claim 12 , wherein said isolated nucleic acid is operatively linked to at least a nucleic acid sequence encoding for a gene to be expressed specifically in rod cells. 
     
     
         15 . A vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         16 . The vector of  claim 15 , wherein said vector is a viral vector. 
     
     
         17 . Use of a nucleic acid according to  claim 12  for the expression of a gene in rod cells. 
     
     
         18 . Use of an expression cassette according to  claim 14  for the expression of a gene in rod cells. 
     
     
         19 . Use of a vector according to  claim 15  for the expression of a gene in rod cells. 
     
     
         20 . A method of expressing a gene in rod cells comprising the steps of transfecting an isolated cell, a cell line or a cell population with an expression cassette according to  claim 14 , wherein the gene to be expressed will be expressed by the isolated cell, the cell line or the cell population if said cell is, or said cells comprise, rod cells. 
     
     
         21 . An isolated cell comprising the expression cassette of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         22 . An isolated cell comprising the vector of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         23 . The cell of  claim 21  wherein the expression cassette is stably integrated into the genome of said cell. 
     
     
         24 . The cell of  claim 22  wherein the vector is stably integrated into the genome of said cell. 
     
     
         25 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 12 , wherein the product of the gene is a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         26 . The expression cassette of  claim 14 , wherein the product of the gene is a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         27 . The vector of  claim 15 , wherein the product of the gene is a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         28 . The use of  claim 17 , wherein the product of the gene is a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the product of the gene is a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         30 . The cell of  claim 19 , wherein the product of the gene is a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         31 . A kit for expressing gene in rod cells comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 12 .